adjective
grateful, thankful
B1
Meaning: 'grateful' or 'thankful', used to describe appreciation. Comparative: dankbarer; superlative: am dankbarsten. Commonly used with 'für' (dankbar für etwas) or 'jdm gegenüber'. Antonym: undankbar. Gradable adjective, not a participle. Used both predicatively (Ich bin dankbar) and attributively (ein dankbarer Mensch). Neutral register.
Examples
Sie war dankbar, dass alles rechtzeitig angekommen ist.
She was thankful that everything arrived on time.
Die Familie war dankbar, weil die Nachbarn beim Aufräumen halfen.
The family was grateful because the neighbors helped with the tidying up.
Ich bin sehr dankbar für deine Hilfe.
I'm very grateful for your help.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone holding a thank-you card with a big smile — that warm image links to 'dankbar' (grateful).
Sounds like 'thank-bar' — imagine a bar full of thanks to remember 'grateful/thankful'.
Notes
Normally used with 'für' + accusative (dankbar für etwas). It's a gradable adjective (dankbarer, am dankbarsten).